Two contested races before Montgomery voters

Published 5:30 am, Thursday, May 13, 2004

Mary Sue Timmerman
said that Montgomery was "a city in crisis" when she was elected mayor two years ago.

On Saturday, Timmerman will be opposed by Edith Moore in the mayoral election.

"In the past, we hadn't run the city like a business," Timmerman said.

During Timmerman's first term, which began in 2002, an independent audit was performed and the city hired its first full-time city administrator, she said.

Moore said it's "time for a change."

The city needs to strengthen communication with its citizens, Moore said.

If elected, Moore said she will improve communication with residents by working with school districts and churches, talking to people in the community face-to-face and posting city agendas more visibly.

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Timmerman said, under her term, the city's ongoing infrastructure problem -- the water and wastewater systems -- was addressed.

"Part of being the third oldest city in Texas is that we have an aging infrastructure," Timmerman said. "Water was at capacity when I came in and nothing was being done about it."

About a year ago, Montgomery received a $350,000 grant from the Houston-Galveston Area Council to build a new water system, Timmerman said. A new well and holding tank will be linked to the existing structure to create a better overall system. Also, the process is under way for a new wastewater system, she added.

Some residents wary of changes

"This is a part of Montgomery County that is experiencing a growth pattern," Timmerman said. "In two years, the (city's) population may double."

Timmerman said that construction could begin in two months on a new subdivision toward the west side of the city that will consist of 164 homes.

Dealing with change is another "critical issue," Timmerman said. Residents need to embrace change because a lot of growth will take place around the city. This can be difficult for some people, she said.

"I think there is a mixed reaction about growth," Timmerman said. "Some residents would like to put a fence around the city, but (many) feel that growth is vital to improving the city."

Though the city must prepare for growth, it still should preserve a small-town atmosphere, she added.

Moore said she also promotes asking the Texas Department of Transportation to do a study that could alleviate traffic problems that occur several times during the day at the intersection of Texas 105 and Texas 149.

Timmerman, 58, is a retired nursing home administrator and has lived in Montgomery since 1996.

Moore, 78, has lived in Montgomery for 30 years. Before retiring, she was employed by the Houston Independent School District as a teacher, principal and deputy superintendent.

Two vie for Position 4

Shockley said the last two years have been "outstanding" for City Council. Members have been kept well informed on city issues and new mayor Timmerman has done "a great job," he said. Shockley also praised the performance of City Administrator Vicky Rudy, who was hired six months ago.

Cummings believes he has the experience to be elected to City Council.

Cummings said he served on City Council from 1990 to 2002. He was a council member for seven years, then was appointed mayor in 1997 when the mayor resigned. He was elected mayor in 1998 and 2000, but declined to run in 2002 because of personal reasons, he said.

"You still have people who don't want any change," Shockley said. "City Council is trying to prepare residents for the inevitable change."

The forecasted population growth is bringing about changes, Shockley said. In the next two years, Montgomery's population will possibly double and then continue to increase thereafter, he added.

In another matter, Shockley said he disagreed with some residents' complaints that people aren't sufficiently notified of council schedules and agendas. City Council agendas are posted at City Hall and other places in Montgomery, he said.

"The monthly city newsletter accompanies the water bill and it lists City Council meetings," he said.

"If you get a water bill, you get the newsletter."

Shockley added that council meetings are also posted on the city's Web site.

Cummings is one of the residents who feels that council agendas aren't adequately displayed. There is only one place to see the agenda, at City Hall, and it isn't centrally located, he said.

"I want to help council to open up dialogue with residents," Cummings said. "During my tenure as mayor, I opened up the lines of communication more than ever before."

Regarding the issue of raising money to improve the wastewater system, Shockley said the city needs to be creative.

"Right now, we don't have the user base to pay for a new wastewater system."

The city may need to raise a bond to increase property taxes, he said. Montgomery is also looking for grants to help with the cost.

Plans in mind for new wastewater plant

Regarding improvement of the city's infrastructure, Cummings said the process begins with the wastewater plant.

The city has plans to repair the old wastewater plant and to build a new one. The present plant is about 25 years old and is worn out, he said. Cummings emphasized that building a new one has to be a primary goal.

By state law, when the capacity of a wastewater plant reaches 75 percent, plans need to be in place to resolve the problem, and when capacity reaches 90 percent, construction has to be started, he said. Montgomery is now in the 60th percentile, he said.

Cummings, 79, said he is a retired claims representative for the veterans administration. He said he also served in the Air Force for 26 years.

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The third position up for election is City Council Position 2. Incumbent Timothy McWashington, 62, is running unopposed.